In cash-strapped school districts robotics teams often rely on area businesses for funding

The high school robotics season may be over, the wires put away, the tool kits replaced on the shelf, the robots dismantled for parts. But another season also has ended.

The fundraising appeals to local and national companies and hometown residents also are typical of robotics competition, and they too have come to a close.

Building a competition robot — capable perhaps of tossing a ball into a hoop — will easily cost $4,000; and sending a team of students and their advisers to high-level competitions such as the World Championship in St. Louis, held in April, could add thousands more to the tab.

“The school district does support us by donating part of the needed funds to enter the competitions, but much additional support is needed,” said Michael Siccoa, robotics team adviser for Hamilton High School West.

The school district makes up 13 to 14 percent of the team’s annual budget, so students rely heavily on local businesses.

Fortunately, for students interested in the highly popular field of robotics competition, there are many local companies that want to sponsor them, companies like Siemens and Lockheed Martin.

“Companies tend to sponsor high school robotics teams because it gives back to the local community they are set up in,” said Nikki Stout, mentor for Team Mercury at Hightstown High School.

Sometimes the federal government will chip in. Robbinsville Robotics has previously been sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

With much of their funding coming from outside sponsors, students have to scour the internet looking for grants and write letters to area businesses asking them for financial support.